Preparing fine particles of iron oxid for use in blast-furnaces.



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E;

UTLEY WEDGE, OF ARDMORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PREPARING FINE PARTICLES OF IRON OXID FOR USE IN BLAST-FURNACES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed November 13, 1907. Serial No. 402,014.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, UTLEY WEDGE, a citizen of the United'States, residing in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Imrovements in Preparing Fine Particles of roll OXid for Use in Furnaces, of which the followi is a specification.

The 0 ject of my invention is to prepare, for use in blasts or open-hearth furnaces, relatively fine particles of oxid of iron'such as the red hematite ores and the cinder resulting from the desulfu'rization of iron yrites inthe manufacture of sulfuric acid These relatively fine particles of-oxid of iron are not available foruse in blast furnaces first, 'because of their tendency to pack and render the furnacecharge too dense for the passage of the blasttherethrough, and secondly, because; when a hi h-pressure blast is used, they are liable to e carried off thereby and deposited in the flues of the furnace. I When the oxidis intended for use in openhearth furnaces, whether acid or basic, it is j important that it should not be combined with any material which would retard or otherwise interfere with the intended action of said furnace. In my Letters Patent No. 804,393, dated November 14, 1905, I described a method of utilizing such fine particles of-iron oxid by mixing the same with Portland cement or cement material, and

then causing the nodulizing or agglomeration of the fine particles of the oXid by subjecting the said mlxture to heat and a itation in a rotating kiln similar to that use for burning cement. Ifind, however, that lime is. referable to cement or cement material or the purpose, since the lime will better take u any moisture contained in'the oxid and wil thus gerform the double function of acting'as a n1: for said oxid and efiecting the drying 'of the same, which makes the meehanicalhandling of the oxid easier, especially if it is derived from the desulfurization of iron p yrites which is afterwards subjected to a leaching operation to extract the copper therefronn From three to four percent. of lime will usually be found sufficient to effect the desired results.

I' refer to use what are. known as lime for ings the same being air-slaked or partiallyair-slaked lime which is in a relatively fine-state and is separated from the larger pieces of lime at the kiln. This air-slaked or 1 artially air-slaked lime, being unavailable or building .pur oses, can be purchased at a low price, and find that it answers better than the limestone referred to in my'previous atent and practically as well as quicklime or m purpose, it being only necessary that it she I ossess sufficient affinity for moisture to enab e it to effect the required. drying of j.

theoxid. I

,After the mixture.-of lime and iron oxid has been pre ared, it is subjected-to theaction of the ki n in the same manner as before,

the combined effect of the hea'tand agitation causing the oxid to form lumps or nodules of varying sizes, and so hard, as to resist disintegration by. handling or while being. intro duced as part of the furnacecharges I claim:

1. The modeherein described of preparing relatively fine particles of iron oxid for use in furnaces,'said mode consisting in mixing said particles with lime in order to take up moisture and act as a illD C, and then subjecting the mixture to combined heat and agitation to form the same into lumps or nodules 2. The mode herein deserlbed of preparing relatively fine particles of iron ()Xl(i for use in furnaces, said mode consisting in mixing said particles with air-slaked lime in order totake up moisture and act as a flux, andthen subjecting said mixture to combined heat and,

agitation to cause it to formlumps or' nodules.

in testimony whereof, 'I have signed my nameto this specification, in thepresenco of two subscribing witnesses.

UTLEY WEDGE.

"Witnesses? i IIAMILTQN' I). TURNER,

KA'1E A. BEAonE. 

